Driving to Provincials

Times Contibutor  

 

The Strathmore High School Boys Golf team wound winning games for the 2012 season into gold.

Going to the provincial games held in Fort McMurray on Sept. 24/25, they competed against 19 teams from 21 Alberta schools. The Strathmore team improved on their last year’s silver win, by bringing home the gold for 2012.

“It’s quite a remarkable accomplishment…when you think about how many people they are playing against, and you are playing against nature, and how everything feels that day. I am very proud of the team,” said Wes Clark, the boy’s coach.

The golf team was comprised of four young men: Austin Biletsky, Corey Campbell, Brady Morris and Zach Olsen. Campbell is in Grade 12 and the rest are in Grade 11.

Clark said the boys’ games had been very consistent all month and their final team score at provincials was 434 with an impressive four shot lead. The team’s score for the silver last year was 449. Strathmore hasn’t won the gold since 1998, when Dustin Risdon’s team gained gold with a score of 445.This year the team impressively underplayed that winning score.

Clark said that golf isn’t ordinarily thought of as team sport.

“There are four players on every team. There are four scores on every hole and they throw out the highest ones. It is really a team sport. Their advantage was they were not worried how they did individually. They were focused on the team result,” said Clark.

The Provincial tournament played at two venues, The Miskanaw Macdonald Island Golf Club and The Fort McMurray Golf club. The young men played both individually and in team formats.

Breakdown Scores

On Sept.24: Campbell-75, Olsen-76, Morris-77, Biletsky-78 with team total 216 and a two shot lead.  Sept. 25: Biletsky came in with a great score of 69, Olsen holding close to the previous day with 75 and Morris and Campbell running 81 and 86 consecutively. Strathmore turned in team rounds of 216 and 218 to finish at 434 and a four shot lead overall.

Clark described the team’s attitude as controlled and consistent.

“They have very good skills. It was just a matter of playing smart golf at times. They are very consistent. We didn’t have many huge hiccups along the way. On day one, the play doesn’t win you the tournament, but it can cost you the tournament. On day one, we were relaxed. We were prepared,” said Clark. 

The Strathmore High School will be recognizing the team’s 2012 accomplishments at an award celebration, scheduled for a later date. The travel costs to the provincials for the team were not covered, so anyone wanting to contribute the boys’ travel expenses can call Wes Clark at the Strathmore High School 403 934-3135. 

2012 Season performance 

The High School golf season runs for one month, September, where members play against regional teams, moving into zones and finally reaching the provincial level. They won a practice round against Brooks and the regional Rockyview game. 

The South Central Zones were held in Airdrie on Sept 19. The Strathmore team won the 2012 zones with a score of 225, holding close to the 2011 score of 224. They won zones for the second year running. Olsen took second place in individual rounds with a score of 72, improving on his previous year third place. Biletsky placed third with 75 this year, but won first in the 2011 zones.

Next season starts organization in May of 2013. The Strathmore High School is hoping to host the 2013 tournament.